Trolley-wire support



(No Model.) v

G. PETERSON. TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT.

Patented June 6, 1893.

0 Mom-Luna. wusumamn, o. c.

port each side of the fracture.

NITED STATES Enron.

PATENT TROLLEY-WIRE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,143, dated June 6, 1893. Application filed December 16, 1892- Serial No. 455.395. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL PETERSON, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trolley-Wire Supports, of which the following is a specification.

I will describe the invention as applied to support a trolley wire in that class of trolleywire ways in which the usual upright poles are set a considerable distance away from the road, with wires across, and the trolley wire is supported over the center of the road by such transverse wires.

The object of the invention is to reduce the danger of accidents from the communication of the current from the broken ends of the wire when a fracture occurs. It insures a prompt and complete breakage of the electrical connection through the wire at the sup- I provide at each supporting point two bell-crank levers oppositely arranged. I cut the wires into lengths only sufficient to extend from the lever at one support to the adjacent lever on the next support with means for firmly attaching them. The levers are arranged, each with an arm extending upward, and the tension of the proper wire on the horizontal arm of each tends to hold the upper ends of the levers reliably in contact. The electric current flows from the wire to the lever and through the.

joined upper ends to the other member of the pair of levers, and thence through the clamp out again into the next wire. I provide for efficiently supporting the centers of the. le-

vers, using any ordinary or suitable means for insulating the levers from their supports and from each other except at the joined points at their upper ends. I provide for matching the upper ends one into the other so as tomake a contact which is capable of sliding and in what I esteem the best form of the invention, face the contact surfaces with platina. When a fracture of a wire occurs, the broken ends being unsupported, descend by gravity and turning their corresponding bell-crank levers, disconnect their upper ends each from its adjacent lever, and the electrical current then ceases to be transmitted beyond the support.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the inventi-on.

Figure l is a perspective view. The remaining figures sh'ow parts on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the same with the top-cap removed. Fig. 4 isa vertical section on the line 4-4 in Fig. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of a portion on a still larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

D Below these extend wings D each having two holes D which receive transverse bolts E, held by nuts E. On each of these bolts E, I mount a bell-crank lever, the upright arm of which is marked G, and the lower arm is marked G The upper arms are adapted to form a mechanical engagement each with the other and support to keep the parts in their places and also an efficient electrical connection. The lower arm G2 of each I form with a straight and narrow under edge corresponding to the trolley wire, and these form, when the parts are in place for use, a nearly continuous track for the trolley wheel, not shown. The upper edge is formed to be engaged strongly by the bent end of the wire. Each lower arm is also provided with a hole which receives a bolt 1 which engages a loop or strap secured by a nut I. The strap H is tapped and receives a strong screw J, which is set down firmly upon a clamping-piece K, curved to match the outline of the upper edge of the arm G.

M M are lengths of the trolley wire, each bent near its end by compression between suitable checks, or otherwise, to correspond to the upper face of the arm G Such face .D correspondingly grooved, held by screws and the adjacent under face of the clamp K, are each grooved,as indicated. At theouter end or terminal point the wire M extends horizontally in line with the lower edge of the arm G There are two of the bell crank levers mounted in reverse positions in each of the castings D, and it will be understood that the opposite end of each wire M is correspond ingly secured to the next support, and so on. The upper end G of one lever is notched as indicated by g, and the adjacent end of the opposite lever is formed with a corresponding angular projection G are in position for use the projection Gr matches in the notch g, and locks the parts against a tendency to displacement vertically.

On the upper ends'of onellever of each pair, are riveted two thin cheeks Gflwhich extend across the junction and lap upon the upper endof the adjacent lever, thus locking the upper arms G of each pair together against displacement laterally. The inner face of each'cheek'G is faced witha thin layer of platinum. The adjacent surfacesof the in-i closed arm G of the opposite lever is also,

faced with platinum. i

The casting D is supported on the transverse wire 0. It supports "the two bolts E,E, and each of these supports abell crank'leverf; G, G which by means of their clampingi pieces K-and straps H, and screws J, firmly} The trolley; wheel, not shown, which may be of the ordi-g" hold and support thewires M.

nary form'and adapted to serve in the 0rdinary manner, rolls along under each lengthj of wire "M,'an'd under thelower arms G Gil of each pair of levers and again olfan'd under; the next length of wire M. All these partsi are in the circuit. ber or analogous insulating material defend theselevers against the communication of the current to the bolts E, and Washers of similar 1 material defend them against the communication'of the current laterally to the casting D. I make the electrical contact between 'i the clamping pieces'K, and'each corresponding arm G, as complete as possible. The j 1111C: tions at the upper ends of the two'arms G of each pair are complete, and practically the ration of the upper arms Gandthe complete" insulation of the part of the wire which is broken. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show'the tilted position'which will be assumed by the lever G, G and of the attached length'of wire M, when such fracture has occurred.

When the parts Q Thimbles L, of hard rubjthe casting D remains upright and the lower edges of the castings G and G are in a right line. When one part breaks, the pull of the other part not only tilts the lever G as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 but also tilts the casting D so that the lever G connected to the broken end is lower than the other. The form of the parts prevents their contact under these conditions, and the tilting of the part D aids materially to insure the complete stoppage of the current.

With my invention the ends of the wires which fall on the track are'harmless and continue to be sowhatever'may be the condition 'of the current in'the portion of the wire remaining in place. The repairs may be effected expeditiouslybyremovingthe broken parts and clamping the ends of anew length M in theproper levers.

I defend'the topsxof each pairof arms G','G, againstthe weatherbyapplying a thin root Pof hard rubber, as shown in Figs. '2, '4. and '5. These are elastic,and grip the tops of the arms with suflicient force'to hold themselves efficiently'against the :slight disturbing forces to'which 'they'are exposed while the parts'are in condition foruse. When a wire breaks and the lever "arms G G pull apart, these roofs being open at each end offer no serious resistance to 'themovement.

. Partsof the invention maybe used without the whole.

The invention has been described as applied to trolley-wires, but itmaybeused with advantage in electric lighting systems and other situations where an electric current of such strength as to "be dangerous is emnation with each otherand with the supporting'cast'ing D, supported at the point C and pivoted to the "levers'G at the separatepoints E, adaptedto tilt with the strain of the unbroken length of the wire,and thus increase the certainty of the disconnection of the upright arm of such bell crank levers, all substantially as specified.

2. In combination with atrolley-wire made in separate lengths, an open endedroof P, ap-

plied asshown, over the upper ends of the levers and retained simply byits gravity-and lateral friction and the pair of levers G G connected to adjacent lengths, each having an arm extending upward, these arms being adapted to form electrical contact at their upper ends, and with provisions for causing them to separate when either length of wire breaks, all arranged for joint operation substantially as herein specified.

3. A trolley wire made in separatelengths, in combination with two bell-crank levers attached to adjacent lengths, each with an arm extended upward, detachably united, arranged substantially as herein shown, so that when a wire breaks the falling of the broken ends by gravity will effect such detachment and thus out both the broken ends out of the circuit, one of the upright arms thus engaged being embraced between'two cheeks carried 7 on the other, substantially as herein specified.

4. A trolley wire made in separate lengths in combination with two bell-crank levers attached toadjacent lengths each with an arm extended upward detachably united substantially as herein shown, so that when a wire breaks the falling of the broken ends by gravity will efiect such detachment, and thus out both the broken ends out of the'circuit, the upright arms thus engaged being interlockedby the projection G on one arm, and the recess 9 on the other so as to support each other mechanically against displacement vertically while leaving them free t'o separate, all substantially as herein specified.

5, A trolley wire made in separatelengths in combination with two bell-crank levers attached to adjacent lengths, each with an arm extended upward detachably united substanthe drawing of the arms directly apart when the wire breaks, all substantially as herein, specified.

In testimony that I claim. the invention above set forth I affix my signature in'presence of two witnesses. V

. CARL PETERSON. Witnesses:

A. T. ROTH,

CHARLES BRIX. 

